COPA co-founder John Bogie died April 6 at the age of 91. Bogie was a towering figure in Canadian aviation and remained active with COPA until he became seriously ill in late 2017. The official obituary follows:

Born September 6, 1926 in Brooklyn, NY, son of late Florence R. Maclaren and Robert R. Bogie. He was predeceased by his wife Penelope Lindsay and Brother Robert (Bo) A. Bogie. He is  survived by his sons Iain and Craig (Alyson), his step daughter Martha Lindsay (Brandon), five grandchildren Duncan, Alexander, Kassandra, Christopher and Dylan. A US Navy aircrew veteran who because he was underage could not fly at the time, John commenced a lengthy pioneering career in Canadian aviation shortly after the war. In the early 1950’s he flew extensively for Laurentian Air Service and various mining exploration companies in Northern Quebec, Ontario, Newfoundland/Labrador and elsewhere in Canada. In 1968 he purchased Laurentian Air Service Ltd from his uncle Barnet A. Maclaren Sr. and for the next 40 years continued to operate Laurentian and its affiliates (Air Schefferville, B.M. Aviation, Air Laurentian) in charter and scheduled flights, Delay /river Outfitters for fishing and hunting expeditions in Northern Quebec, aircraft maintenance and refurbishing many US military Dehavilland Beaver aircraft in partnership with Colin McOuat late of Lachute Quebec. John together with the late Marg Carson wee instrumental in establishing and growing Canadian Owners and Pilots Association (COPA), representing the interests and concerns of private airplane owners throughout Canada. The Canadian Aviation Historical Society Journal 2009 recorded John’s love of flying in an article entitled “John Bogie: A Life in Aviation”. In recognition of his many contributions to private and commercial flights in Canada John was inducted as a member of the Canadian Aviation Hall of Fame prior to his death.